Razor-To-Can-Top Docking System

ABSTRACT

The Razor-to-Can-Top Docking System allows users to hang a wide variety of razors,  5 , securely on a modified aerosol-shaving cream can top,  3 , for storage between uses. This is accomplished by attaching a stalk,  1 B, to the can top,  3 , with a nub,  1 A, at the end of the stalk. The razor is hung on the stalk via a hole or cavity in the razor&#39;s handle that engages the nub,  1 A, on the stalk,  1 B. Without the razor, the stalk,  1 B, may be put out of the way and closed to the can top. In the open position, the stalk and nub can engage the cavity. The cavity may be throughgoing or only partially excavated, leaving an undercut lip to engage the nub. It is understood that a wide variety of nub shapes and cavities may be used with the condition that the chosen nub and cavity conform to each other such that the engagement is secure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a docking system for a razor that allows the razor to easily be removed for use and docked to the can top for drying and storage. When docked, the combination may be viewed as a special receptacle or package, in which case it would be classified in class 206, subclass 228. If one focuses on the docking system itself, however, the invention may be viewed as a support and classified in class 248, subclass 213.2. These different fields are defined below.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Class 206, Special Receptacle or Package:

Class 206 is the residual locus for: (a) a container configured to hold a particular article or set of articles or material; (b) a mercantile unit—i.e., means in or by which goods (article or material) are displayed, protected, packaged or arranged in a particular manner, to facilitate sale, transportation in commerce, use or storage or (c) a packet, compact or case carried on the person of a user;

216. Combined or Convertible:

This subclass is indented under Class 206. A container either (a) for two or more diverse articles (or materials), or (b) wherein the container is structured so that at least a portion thereof is capable of rearrangement for a secondary purpose;

223. Packaged Assemblage or Kit:

This subclass is indented under subclass 216. A container wherein the two or more diverse contents are (a) useable in concert to effect a unitary result (e.g., toweling and soap, wrapping paper with string and ribbon) or (b) the disassembled parts of an article;

228. With Razor:

This subclass is indented under subclass 223. A container for a razor as well as a blade or some other article or material, other than a toilet article.

Alternatively, the invention may be viewed as a support that mounts on an enclosure or container. This field is described below.

Class 248, Supports

This class provides for devices which carry the weight of an article or articles or otherwise hold or steady it or them against the pull of gravity, and devices for holding an article to its support, which are not otherwise provided for;

200. Brackets:

This subclass is indented under the class definition. Supports for an article which is attached to a device and has an outwardly extending article supporting portion including relatively compact rigid devices even when attached to a ceiling or other overhead support;

205.1 Specially Mounted or Attached:

This subclass is indented under subclass 200. Brackets for supporting an article on particular objects or in a particular place or way;

213.2 On Receptacle:

This subclass is indented under subclass 205.1. Structure which mounts on an enclosure or container.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,445 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position and is limited to the specific geometry of the particular razor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,785 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position and secures the razor by a molded shelf that is limited to the specific geometry of the particular razor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,832 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position and secures the razor by a clamp at the base of the can.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,738 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position and secures the razor by a clamp at the top of the can.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,259 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position that secures the razor by a clamp at the dispenser of the can, or, alternatively, by a U-shaped clip in the can top.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,433 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position and secures the razor by two separate molded arms in the can top.

USD252133 portrays a docking system that retains the razor in a blade-up position and that is virtually identical to U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,445.

The instant invention departs from the prior art, because nowhere in the prior art does the razor depend from a support localized within an area of the upper part of the handle such that the razor is supported in a blade-down position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Razor to Can-Top Docking System allows users to hang a wide variety of razors securely on a modified aerosol shaving cream can top for storage between uses. This is accomplished by attaching a stalk to the can top with a nub at the end of the stalk. The razor is hung on the stalk via a hole or cavity in the razor's handle that engages the nub on the stalk. Without the razor, the stalk may be placed out of the way and closed to the can top. In the open position, the stalk and nub can engage the cavity. The cavity may be throughgoing or only partially excavated, leaving an undercut lip to engage the nub. It is understood that a wide variety of nub shapes and cavities may be used, with the condition that the chosen nub and cavity conform to each other in such a way that the engagement is secure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a can top, 3, and a razor, 5, in the process of being hung from supporting stalk, 1B, via a conforming nub, 1A, within a conforming cavity in the upper part of the handle.

FIG. 2 depicts the hung razor with the razor, 7, in the blade-down position.

FIG. 3 depicts the stalk, 1B, in a first, closed position, herein withdrawn into can top, 3, through orifice, 8. For convenience, a recession, 2, is provided to ensure that the nub, 1A, is well within the contour of can top, 3.

FIG. 4 depicts the stalk in a second, open position wherein the nub is prepared to accept the razor.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a depression, 6, in the upper surface, 10, of the can top that provides a rest for the razor as well as a finger guide to find the nub by feel alone.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict the versatility of the instant invention as applied to a more stylistic can top having contoured side-walls, 9.

FIGS. 9-11 depict an embodiment wherein the stalk, 1B, pivots about an axle, 13, to reside in a first, closed position in trough 11, with the nub at 12, or to a second, open position wherein the nub is prepared to accept the razor. Finger guide, 11, serves the same purpose as 6, above.

FIG. 12 depicts a conforming cavity with an undercut, 15, to engage the conforming nub, 1A.

FIG. 13 depicts a variety of conforming cavities that may be undercut as in FIG. 12, or may be throughgoing as an alternative. In either case, a key-hole or tear-drop shape can assist the process of engagement.

FIG. 14 is a top-down view of the docked razor.

FIG. 15 is a variant of FIG. 12, with a better view of undercut 15.

FIGS. 16-17 illustrates a throughgoing aperture or cavity, 16.

FIG. 18 illustrates a variety of conforming nubs that can engage a variety of conforming cavities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 demonstrate how a razor may be hung and docked to the can top, as well as how easily it may be un-docked or detached. FIGS. 9-11 show a different arrangement, with similar elements.

In all embodiments, the stalk has a first-attachment means that allows the stalk to move. This may be accomplished, in FIGS. 1-2, by a retraction mechanism (not shown) or a telescope arrangement (not shown), or other means that are well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art and are not part of the instant invention. In FIGS. 9-11 the first attachment means that still allows the stalk to move is axle, 14. One can envision, as well, replacing the axle by a pivot point at 13. Again, the commonality of these elements is a stalk with a first attachment means by which it is movably attached to the can top.

The stalk must have a nub at its' free-end. A variety of nubs is depicted in FIG. 18. The nubs generally have a larger cross-section than the stalk and a shape that conforms to a cavity at end of the razor's handle. Various cavity shapes are depicted in FIG. 16, and each can be realized as throughgoing smooth-walled apertures, or are only partially excavated with an undercut lip. In the latter realization, nubs b, d, or e will better engage the undercut lip. In the former realization, nubs a or d will better engage the second surface of the perforated handle. In any of these combinations, it is obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to choose a compatible nub/cavity combination and set of dimensions that allows the proper and smooth conformance of the two elements.

The stalk length and position of attachment on the can top must be carefully considered when implementing the instant invention. The can itself is cylindrical, with a given radius, a central axis, and a can-bottom plane to which it is perpendicular. The bottom of the can top must also be cylindrical and of similar radius to the can to perform its' co-axial sealing function. The rest of the can top, however, may have a variety of shapes; see FIGS. 7-8. The outer surface of the can top, along with its' bottom, define a can-top volume. It is generally preferable, on esthetic grounds and to prevent snagging, that in the closed position, the stalk and nub be contained within the can-top volume, or its' skin. This may be facilitated by a recess such as 2, or by other devices well-known to designers in these arts.

In the open position, the stalk need not be perpendicular to the central axis defined above, but may be at any desired angle, with the following limitation: the projection of the open stalk upon the can-bottom plane must be greater than the radius defined above and sufficiently greater, such that the dependant razor lies parallel to the central axis and sensibly distant from the can body to freely hang. 

1. A razor-to-can-top docking system comprising: a can top for a cylindrical can, said can having a radius and a central axis perpendicular to a plane passing through the bottom surface of said can; said can top having a cylindrical bottom portion with adequate radius to removably and coaxially cover said can, and an outer surface which—together with said can-top bottom portion-defines a can-top volume; a stalk with a stalk cross-section and a first-attachment means to movably attach one end of said stalk to said can-top volume, and a conforming-nub means of greater cross-section than said stalk, attached to said stalk at the opposite, free end of said stalk; said stalk having an open position wherein said conforming-nub means extends outwardly from said can-top volume away from said central axis, such that a projection of said open-position stalk and conforming-nub means upon said plane is greater than said can radius; a closed position, wherein said conforming-nub means and said stalk are predominantly within said can-top volume; a razor with a blade end and a handle end; and a second-attachment means that releasably affixes said razor to vertically depend from said stalk and said conforming-nub means at said handle-end such that said dependant, blade-end down razor is in proximity to said can and parallel to said central axis.
 2. The razor-to-can-top docking system of claim 1, wherein said second-attachment means comprises a conforming-cavity means in said handle end of said razor; wherein said conforming-cavity means admits said conforming-nub means in said closed position, engages said conforming-nub means at said cavity means and permits said conforming-nub means and said attached stalk to be moved into said open position wherein said conforming cavity means gravitationally engages said conforming-nub means and said stalk to depend said razor in said blade-down position.
 3. The razor-to-can-top docking system of claim 2, wherein said conforming-cavity means comprises a throughgoing aperture in said handle-end of said razor, perforating said handle end of said razor from a first surface to a second surface.
 4. The razor-to-can-top docking system of claim 3, wherein said nub means engages said conforming-cavity means at said second surface.
 5. The razor-to-can-top docking system of claim 2, wherein said conforming-cavity means comprises a partially excavated aperture with an undercut lip in said handle end of said razor.
 6. The razor-to can-top docking system of claim 5, wherein said nub means engages said conforming-cavity means at said undercut lip.
 7. The razor-to-can-top docking system of claim 2, further comprising a recession means to ensure that in said closed position said conforming-nub means and said stalk lie predominantly within said can-top volume.
 8. The razor-to-can-top docking system of claim 2, further comprising a finger-guide means to assist in finding the said nub means by feel alone. 